[C320-list] Single Handed Sailing

[Bob Borelli]

I always sailed small boats, 14' boats.
Moved up to a C22 before the C320.
I sail both like a small boat.
I think of my C320 as a small boat and I sail it that way.
It is a beauty.

Reef early!
Know the weather before you go, listen & pay attention to the wind, weather & depth as you sail.
Remember it sure is easy to shake out a reef then to put one in.
Better to have and not need.
The boat sails well with both reefed jib & main.  Balanced, very nice!

In an overpowering gust, the boat should turn up into the wind, Auto helm or brake the wheel, move forward & release jib sheet & drop traveler, then main sheet.
Let her luff.

I've had to drop the genoa jib in a blow because the furler jammed.
Two different occasions.
Sail came down quick and stuffed most of into the fwd hatch.

The main comes down quick and the Dutchman would keep the sail furled enough so I would not be sliding over sails in the cockpit.
The main sail controls are easy to handle, I trim the main to the wind while luffing on the mooring.

Bob Borelli no. 209
________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Bob Borelli <cassattc22 at hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2022 9:54 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Single Handed Sailing

I single hand sail my C320 all the time.
Raise the both sails on the mooring and take off tacking back forth upwind down the Sassafras River towards the upper Chesapeake Bay.

When tacking I will use either the Autohelm to turn the bow thru the wind or the wheel brake.
Then more forward of the wheel into the cockpit to trim the jib on the new tack.
Generally I have the traveler & main sheet set & just let the main change from side to side, just adjust jib.
Overall when I trim the sails, balance the sails, she sails herself.
So, I find the my C320 easy, fun to sail!

And easy to power into a slip.
I practice going in reverse around the moorings & most importantly backing into to slip.
Tying off on the T pier or in the slip single handed on my C320 no problem, just pay attention to tide, wind, current.
Have dock lines ready on the fwe & aft cleats.
Great fun to sail!

Bob Borelli no. 209

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Joe M <smith.blazer.72 at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2022 9:17 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Single Handed Sailing

Our 320 is my first sailboat. All of my sailing is single handed with my
wife in the jump seat. We do have a furling main.

And I have a harness for the once in a while I need to go forward.

No need to worry about a knock down. It will round up and stop before that
could happen.

I use the traveler from the helm and if I need to use the cabin top
winches, I just turn on pilot, use the wheel brake or put my wife at the
helm.

Joe 2002 C320 hull #902

On Fri, Jan 21, 2022 at 8:41 AM Charles Martin <chiprmartin at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thank you to all who responded to my query on single handed sailing on the
> C320.  I am always amazed by the depth and breadth of knowledge and
> experience of the members of our association.
>
> I will provide a response to all the advice I received once I digest the
> information and determine the best path forward for my situation.
>
> Best,
> Chip Martin
> S/V Bonaventure, Hull #767
> (410) 231-0199
> chiprmartin at gmail.com
>
> On Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 4:18 PM Allan Field <allanfield47 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I did a lot of single handed sailing when I owned a C320. On the
> plus-side,
> > all lines coming aft to the cockpit, including the reefing lines (I put a
> > second reef in the main after buying the boat that came only with a
> single
> > reef point and line) helps a lot. On the negative side, there are 2 big
> > ones. The first is having to go up on the coach roof to tie down the
> sail,
> > even with the Dutchman in place to help with the stacking. On my C387, I
> > have a roller furling main which keeps me where I belong - in the
> cockpit!
> > The second negative is the single set of larger winches in the cockpit,
> > both forward of the helm. To help compensate for both of these, I
> invested
> > in a remote handheld autohelm. While up on the deck stowing the sail, I
> > could control the boat with the handheld (except for boat speed). This
> also
> > allowed me to stand in front of the helm to tack or gybe, using the
> remote
> > to control the boat while I tended to the running rigging.
> >
> > It took me a while after owning the boat to figure out the best way to
> take
> > a reef, especially when single handed. This is the way I did so. I first
> > came up close hauled on the jib and let the main all the way out until it
> > was luffing. Next step was to drop the main halyard enough to bring the
> new
> > tack for the new reef point down to the boom. Next was to take the reef
> by
> > pulling the new clew line tight. Next was to tighten the main halyard.
> Next
> > was to bring the main back from luffing to where I wanted it to be. Next
> > was to adjust the jib for whatever point of sail I now on with the main.
> I
> > challenged myself to be able to do all this in under 2 minutes. Shaking
> the
> > reef out was just in reverse - come up close hauled on the jib, let the
> > main out, pull the main halyard back up after freeing the clew reefing
> > line, bring the main back over, and off I'd go!
> >
> > Probably the biggest challenge of single handed sailing is getting the
> boat
> > back into the slip unassisted, closely followed by getting her out in the
> > first place! But that's a story for another day!
> >
> > Hope this helps!
> >
> > Allan S. Field
> > *Sea Shadow* - C387, #103 (formerly C320, #808)
> > Columbia, MD
> >
> > On Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 3:11 PM Charles r Martin <chiprmartin at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Has anyone modified the C320 running rigging to make it easier/safer to
> > > sail when sailing alone?
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Chip Martin
> > > S/V Bonaventure, Hull #767
> > > (410) 231-0199
> > > chiprmartin at gmail.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> >
>